Fiee arm



M A H A R G m W BREEGH'LOADING FIRE ARM.

No. 333,732. Patented Mar. 30,1333.

Inventor:

wwwnz M W n m (No Model.) 3 snets sheet 2-. W. J. GRAHAM.

BREEGH LOADING FIRE ARM. No. 338,732 Patented Mar. 30, 1886.

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All!!! Inventor (No Model.) I 3 Shets-Sheet 3. W. J. GRAHAM.

BBEEGH LOADING FIRE ARM.

Patented Mar. 30, 18%? lnv e ntor Witnesses. I

a specification.

showing the positions occupied by the parts UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM JOHN GRAHAM, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

BRE ECH-LOADI'NG FIRE-ARM.

SEECIE'ICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,732, dated March30, 1886.

Application filed December 12, 1885. Serial No. 185,512. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM JOHN GRA- HAM, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain, residing in the city of Toronto, in the county of Yorkand the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented a new and usefulBreech and Lock Mechanism of a Single-Shot Breech- Loading Fire-Arm, ofwhich the following is My invention relates to improvements in thebreech and lock mechanism of single-shot breech-loading fire-arms havinga verticallysliding breech-block in a suitably slotted and recessedreceiver-frame or receiver.

The objects of my invention are, first, to devise the breech and lockmechanism of a single-shot breech-loading firearm capable of beingoperated in the least number of motions, (on the part of the operatorusing the arm,) by dispensing with the motion of closing the breechafter the cartridge is placed in the cartridge-chamber; secondly, thearrangement of and provision for the working of the parts composing myimproved breech and lock mechanism in as small space as is in accordancewith strength and the preservation of a good and suitable external formof the receiver containing the parts, and, thirdly, additional and inaccordance with the foregoing arrangement and provision, that of havingeasy access to the interior and working parts in the receiver for thepurposes of cleaning, oiling, and examination. I attain these objects bythe mechanism fully shown connected and detailed in separate anddistinct parts in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the receiver and a short portion of the barrel and forearmof a fire-arm broken off. Fig. 2 is a view, in elevation, of theleft-hand (or the opposite side to that shown in Fig. 1) side, having apart removed or broken out, exhibitingthe interior mechanism in theready position. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of thereceiver andpart of the triggerguard, the lever-axle being incrosssection. Fig. 4 is also a similar view of receiver, but

when the lever seen in Fig. l is drawn full back, hereinafter described.Fig. 5 is a view somewhat similar-to Fig. 1, but exhibiting the means ofaccess to the parts for cleaning,

&c., without dismounting the lock, also showing the side lever coming incontact with the cartridge-extractor. Fig. 6 is a plan of the arm asshown in elevation in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a perspective detail of thelever and. its axle. Fig. 8 is a perspective detail of the crank, whichfits closely on the axle and operates the striker, breech-block, 850.Fig. 9 is a perspective detail of the U-shaped or double connecting-baremployed in operating the breech-block and connecting it with the crank.Fig. 10 is an angular view of the breech-block inverted. Fig. 11 is anangular elevation of the striker complete. Fig. 12 is a perspective viewof the indicator. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the extractor-bar.Fig. 14 is an angular perspective view of the plate employed inretaining the extractor-bar in position. Fig. 15 is a detail of theplunger and its spring. Fig. 16 isa side view of the striker and end ofthe alternative or rebounding form of mainspring.

the main and operating springs, trigger, trigger-guard, and safety-stopin their respective positions.

Similar-letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

, The receiver A, containing myimproved breech and lock mechanism, ismade of suitable metal, (as are all the parts contained in it,)difiering only from other receiversin that class of fire-arms (havingthe barrel screwed or otherwise securely attached to it) in suchrespects as suit and adapt it to the particular form of breech and lockmechanism it contains, and forhaving the same operated in and about it.The lever B is the only and externallyprojecting means whereby thebreech and lock mechanism can be operated, and is substantially for thatpurpose only. By having an. axle, 0, connected to the lever B and movingwith it the internal and attached parts are operated. The axle O isfor-med in different-shaped parts, and referenced as a, b, c, and (1.(Shown in detail in Fig. 7.) a being the round part is adapted torevolve in a round hole in the right side of the receiver A. The part bis squared or has fiat sides suited to the square hole in crank D, whichis seated on it and fitting closely, moving with the leveraxle Grigidly. On the part 0 (round and Fig. 17 is a plan of the top of thetrigger-guard, showing the positions of smaller in size than a) isseated and revolves with freedom the striker E; and on the part (Z, alsoround and still smaller than 0, is fitted the indicator F, which alsorevolves and is fitted suitably in the left side of the receiver A.Around and on the shoulder formed between the parts 0 and d, by thedifference in size of the parts, is a collar or ring on the side of thestriker E. (Shown in the detailed Fig. 11.) In this collar is akey-slot, c, or a piece out out of the ring at the top to the depthinside of the larger hole in the striker E, which is seated on the partc of the axle U. The indicator F, already referred to, has a smallprojection, f, fitting neatly into the key-slot e in the striker E, andcausing the striker E and indicator F to move as one part, indicating tothe operator the position of the striker E inside the receiver A.Through the end of the part (I of the axle O, and flush with theindicator F, a small pivot passes, securing the parts already mentionedon the axle G; and by the head on the indicator F, the lever B and axleO are secured through the frame or receiver A. The pivot is shown inFig. 2, and in plan, Fig. 6. The crank D (shown detailed in Fig. 8) haspivoted to it at the back the anti-friction roller 9, against which theoperatingspring G bears, for the purpose hereinafter specified. Thestriker E has also a similar anti-friction roller, h, pivoted on theside and receiving the pressure of the mainspring H,which isconsiderably stronger than the operating-spring G. The main andoperating springs H and G, respectively, (shown in Figs. 2, 3,4,and 5,and in plan in Fig. 17,) are double or half-return springs, securedsubstantially as shown. The mainspring 'H, bearing, as already stated,against the antifriction roller 71, operates the striker E, for thepurpose of and during the operation of firing, by continually pressingagainst the anti-friction roller h, pressing the striker E upward andforward against the plunger K, suitably located inthe breech-block J,hereinafter re ferred to. The operating spring G bears against theantifriction roller 9, causing the crank D to press against thebreech-block J, as shown in Fig. 3, and the lever B to press downward,being about seventy degrees in advance ofit on the same axle O. Thecrank D has on its upper and smaller end a hinged jointconnection withthe connecting-bar I, (the latter detail d in Fig. 9,) which forms theconnection between the crank Dand breech-block J. The connecting bar Iis double or U- shaped, substantially as shown in Fig. 9, for thepurpose of securing and insuring auniform push and draw on thesides ofthe breechblock J, when being elevated and depressed, the breeclrblock Jbeing securely connected by the screw, as shown; also, for the purposeof carrying back the striker E and depressing it by the parti of theconnecting-bar I, crossing and being in front of the striker E,rendering it impossible to depress the breech-blockJ without firstdrawing back and depressing the striker F, thereby making place for theblock J,

which follows the striker E always when being depressed, and has, asseen in Fig. 10, a suitable recess in its lower side, to admit of thefree movement of the crank D, the striker E, &c., covered over andprotected byit. The breechblock J has the extended parts j and k, forthe purpose of guiding the block J in its vertical movement in thechannels Z and m, formed substantially in the receiver A, and also forsupporting it in its place securely and rigidly, as a direct rearsupport to the block J, at the instant of the explosion of the cartridgeagainst its face and in the cartridge-chamber of the arm. At or near thecenter vertical height of the breech-block J is a recess adapted to andcontaining the plunger K, which passes through the block J at rightangles to the vertical channels Z and m, in which the block moves in thereceiver A. The plunger K is therefore a direct-acting central-fireplunger. On the removal of the pressure of the striker E the spring Lwithdraws the plunger K from projecting through the face of the block J.The position of the plunger K in the block J and spring L can be seenconnected and separated in Figs. 10 and 15. The trigger M, formedsubstantially as shown in the different figures, is securely pivoted tothe triggerguard N and operated by the trigger-spring O, causing it todrop into the nick or catch a in the bottom and rounded part of thestriker E, retaining it drawn back in the firing position until removedby pressure on the lower projecting part of the trigger M. The guard Nis secured in position by the stud-screw 0, at the forward end, passingthrough suitable lugs on the guard N and the sides of the receiver A. Atthe rear end the screws 1) and q secure it vertically, 9 also servingthe purpose of keeping the springs G and H to their respective positionsunder the anti-friction rollers g and h. On removing the screws 1) and qthe trigger-guard N and all its attachments will, assisted by thesprings G and H, drop or revolve down on the front screw, 0, into theposition occupied in Fig. 5, affording the advantage of being cleaned,oiled, &c., without being totally dismounted. The side lever, B, has, asshown in detail Fig. 7, a recess, into which is set a spring, I, withsufficient space for its working and for the admittance of the stud Q onthe extractor It (shown in Figs. 1, 5, and 6, and detailed in Fig. 13)into the slot in the lever B. The extractor R is formed substantially asshown in Figs. 1 and 5, and in detail, Fig. 13, having thepart r at aright angle to the bar which has the stud Q on it. In the right side ofthe receiver A is formed a suitable slot to contain the extractor R,running parallel to the top of the breech-block J and through the sideof the receiver A, and at right angles to the channels Z and m. In thelower and upper edges are the grooves s and i, into which the plate Sfits. In the receiver A are corresponding grooves, a and "0. Into thesegrooves, which are all rectangular in section, the suitably-shaped plateS is slipped,

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securing the extractor R in position, and having a longer slot than theextractor R, allowing of a backward and forward movement only, operatedby the lever B. The plate S (shown in Fig. 14 in detail) is secured by ascrew to the side of the receiver A.

To provide for safety in carrying and using the arm loaded and in theready position, I employ the trigger-stop 'w in front of the trigger M,movable on the pivot, securing it in position in the trigger-guard N,and locking the trigger M, engaged in the nick a, by pressing the lowerand external portion forward.

Having now'described and referred to the parts composing myimprovedbreech and lock mechanism in their normal positions, it will' be next inorder to describe the movements performed and the functions of the partsin the active, grouped under the three distinct motions of an operatorusing the arm in the acts of loading and dischargingthesame. Referringto Fig. 1, it will be seen that if the operator raises the lever B in anupward and backward direction toward him, he revolves the axle 0, movingthe crank D (seen in Fig. 4) backward and downward, carrying with it thestriker E in the same direction, and operating the connecting bar 1, itssingle or hinged end moving with the crank D, while its upper and doubleend moves in a vertical plane, carrying with it the breech-block J, anddepressing the same, the striker E and the crank D operating anddepressing the operating and main springs G and H, respectively. \Vhenthe lever B has been drawn back till the stud Q on the extractor R comesin contact with the extractor spring P, the edge of the hollowed portionin the top of the breech-block J will have depressed till just flushwith the bottom edge of the cartridge-chamber (shown in the barrel,Figs. 3 and 4.) Continuing the draw or backward movement of the lever B,the extractor R will, if an empty exploded shell is in the chamber,remain under ordinary cases fixed till the Spring 1? against the stud Qis carried or sprung till they come in contact with the bottom side ofthe recess in the lever B, when the draw on the stud Q changes from aspring to a positive force, starting the shell in the chamber. Thespring P then suddenly overcoming the friction retaining the shell,ejects itclear out of the chamber and to the rear of the breech-block J.At the point or instant the extractor R becomes positive acting thetrigger M is dropping into the nick 'n in the striker E, when anyfurther draw and traverse of the lever B is unnecessary, save when thepositive action of the extractor R is required to eject the shell. Thelever B and the internal mechanism will remain in this position, thepressure of the mainspring H being held by the trigger M, and that ofthe operating-spring G partially released from operating the parts bythe friction of the extractor R, staying the lever B engaged, and withthe decreased leverage in elevating the breech-block J by the crank D,occupying the position shown in Fig. 4, the first motion of the operatoris completed, being simply the drawing toward him of the lever B. Shouldit be desirable (as in the use of the arm as a military weapon duringinspection) to ("Jose the action and ease springs, this is performed bypressing the trigger M, disengaging it fronrthe striker E, therebythrowing the additional force of the mainspring H against the crank Dand elevating the breech block J, when the action is closed and thesprings G and H at ease in their normal positions. 0n the other hand, tocontinue the motions and load the arm, that of placing the cartridgeinto the chamber, carrying with it and being in contact with theextractor R, (part 03) completes the second motion necessary by theoperator. The movements performed by the parts are the extractor Breplaced in its usual position, carrying forward with it during part ofits travel the lever B, and starting the operation of the parts operatedon by the operatingspring G, the force of which increases as thebreech-block J rises to its usual position in support of the cartridge.When, now, the striker E is still drawn, as shown in Fig. 2, the thirdand completing motion of the operation to discharge the arm is simplysufficient pressure on the trigger M, which sets free the striker E,when it flies up instantaneously, striking the plunger K, forcing itthrough the breech-block J, igniting the cartridge placed in by thesecond motion of the operator.

Fig. 16 exhibits an alternative form of mainspring, and the kindprobably the most likely to be used. It is arebounding spring, or whatis known as a. rebounding look when this form. is used, differing onlyfrom the form shown in the figures by being longer and suitably cnrvedto pass under the axle C and come in contact with the front portion a;of the striker E,when the upper end of the striker E stands in itsnormal and usual position just clear of,

and does not exert any pressure against, the

plunger K, the pressure on the roller h being counteracted by thecontact at 00 on the front of the striker E by the mainspring H. Whenthe striker E is released from the firing position, it flies up,striking the plunger K, similar to the straight form of spring shown inthe different figures. When it has reached the normal position, the part:1: comes in contact with the spring H, forcing down the spring andreleasing the pressure of the same from the roller h. Thenthe striker Eregains its normal position and rests on the spring H, both by theroller h and the part a: in front of the axle O, the plungerK followingthe striker E in regaining their respective positions.

I am fully aware that single-shot breechloading fire-arms have been andare to the present made, and secured by Letters Patent,

having a verticallysliding breech-block in a suitably recessed andformed receiver, and therefore do notclaim such, broadly; but

\Vhat I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

1. The combination, with the suitably formed and recessed receiver A ofa sin gle-shot breechloading lire-arm, of the vertically-sliding andclosely-fitting breech-block J, suitably connectcd to the double end ofa U-shaped connecting-bar, I, connected at its single end by a hingedjoint to the crank D, having supported on it the anti-friction rollergpperated and pressed on by the operating-spring G,and operating theaxle C, on which it is suitably and rigidly supported, and which isconnected to the lever B, whereby all the parts of the lock mechanismare operated, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combinritionpvith the breech and lock mechanism of asingleshotbreech-loadingfirearm,ofasidelever, B, havinga longitudinallyextendedrecess init-s inner side containing the inserted extractor-spring I,secured by one end, and allowing of the movement and working of theopposite end,whicl1,when operated against the stud Q, (on and part ofthe extractonbar 11,) forms a spring-cushioned bearing between the sidelever, B, and the -and H, the trigger M, the trigger-spring O,and

safety-stop w, the trigger-guard N being secured vertically at its rearend by the screws 1 and q and at its opposite end to the receiver A bythe horizontal stud-screw 0, on which the trigger-guard N revolves,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

NVILLIAM JOHN GRAHAM.

Witnesses:

G. H; WArsoN, S. C. SMORLEY.

